Folland Gnat

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Folland Gnat - former Red Arrows aircraft XR537

Folland Gnat

The Folland Gnat was an exceptionally small swept-wing subsonic jet trainer and light fighter aircraft designed by W. E. W. Petter that first flew in 1955. Its design was such that it could be built without specialised tools, hence by countries that were not necessarily in the first rank of industrialisation. However, to achieve such small size, its systems were quite closely-packed, making maintenance more difficult.

Serving mostly with India as the Gnat Mk. II, the Gnat is credited with shooting down seven Pakistani F-86s in the 1965 war [link] [link] and came out with the lowest attrition rate. The Gnats were used again in the Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan Air Force downing several aircraft. The most notable battle was the Battle of Boyra which witnessed the first dog fighting over East Pakistan during the war. The IAF Gnats downed two PAF Sabres in minutes and badly damaged one. By the end of 1971, the No.22 Squadron, had achieved the fame as Sabre Slayers. IAF operated a HAL built licensed version called the Ajeet . The Gnat proved to be a frustrating opponent for the technically superior Sabres in both the wars and earned the nicknames "Sabre killers"[link][link]. Tactics called for Gnats taking on the Sabres in the vertical where they had a chance and came out trumps.

In Britain it served as the Folland Fo.144 Gnat Trainer (later renamed the Gnat T.Mk 1), most notably as the demonstration aircraft of the RAF's Red Arrows aerobatic team. A few served with Finland.

Many of the Indian aircraft were built in Bangalore with over 175 made there along with about 40 purchased direct from Folland. Finland had stopped using Gnats by 1974, and the UK by 1979. Gnats served in India from 1958-1978, and several remain in use in private hands.

The Gnat's experimental precursor was the Folland Midge, which used a less-powerful engine. In India, the aircraft was called the Ajeet, or "Unconquerable". The successor of the Gnat was a modification for Indian conditions, called the Ajeet Mark 2.

When the RAF replaced and sold-off its Gnat T.Mk 1 trainers many were bought by private collectors and subsequently appeared (along with some single-seat Gnats) in the Charlie Sheen movie Hot Shots.

One of the few remaining Gnats in the UK is currently being restored to flight status at Bournemouth Airport, in Southern England. Once restored, XR537 (or G-NATY as she is registered on the civilian register) will be the only genuine former Red Arrows Gnat on the European display circuit. She can be viewed at Bournemouth Aviation Museum. Like many ex-military jet aircraft, there is one (G-FRCE) based at North Weald Airfield in Essex [link]

Variants

• Fo.141 Gnat : Single seat lightweight fighter aircraft.
• * Gnat F.Mk 1 : Single-seat lightweight fighter version for Finland.
• Fo. 144 Gnat trainer : Two-seat advanced trainer aircraft.
• * Gnat T.Mk 1 : Two-seat advanced trainer version for the RAF.

Operators

• Finland, India, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia (Two aircraft only for tests).

Specifications (Folland Gnat)

References